Table marble game



July 25, 1939. F. w. FALCK TABLE MARBLE GAME Filed Sept. 26, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet 1 jvy s/vwe R02 WFZzc/r July 25, 1939. F. w. FALCK TABLEMARBLE GAME Filed Sept. 26, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR. fie/rzM54105 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mam: 2 2 125 102,648

14 Claims.

My present invention relates to atable marble or ball game.

One of the principal objectsof this invention is to provide a.structure. of this gclassembodied 5 in a racing or competitive gamewhicnmay be played by one person.

Another important object of this invent on is the provision of a novelcombination-ofmeans for selection of a particular field, class, color,.or

: the like, and means for making certainnplaysor goals correspondingwith each .of the latter, and also means for registering such plays orgoals.

A further object of this invention is the 11 .19- vision of novel meansof recordin a -score .-or

514i? goal and of compounding .the score.

A still further important object is to provide novel means ofregistering all plays ongoalsof a particular nature irrespective oftheselectlon.

Still another object. is the provision of such means which will permitan unlimitednllmber of plays until the game is concluded-by .apredetermined number of plays or score .of-apartieular nature. I

Also, an important object isqthe provision of 25 means which willautomatically shut off orcontrol the mechanism, when the game isfinished or won, so that no more ballsmay he obtained, or no more playsregistered.

A further object of this invention is the pm- 130 vision of a gamestructure of this class which is relatively simple, economical anddurable ofv construction, and foolproof and positive inoperation.

With these and other objects in view; as will appear hereinafter, I havedeviseda game struc- 35 ture of this class having certain novel featuresof construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions aswill be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth inthe appended claims, reference being had to'the 40 accompanying drawingsand to the characters of reference thereon which form apart of this ap:plication, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of mytable marble game in a preferred form, showingparticularly the '45 game board; i

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of the game, show ing only the essentialelements thereof; and,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of game,taken-through 3,.:1 of

50 Fig. 1.

My e t re il u r ed in the drawings, is built in table form and at its,upper Side a game board, i lined dow wardly towards the on of e o d.and. com rises a lower 55 nd a. .1 .34 may fiel es gnated respectivelygreen, or red colors.

jPO itethe registering means, is an alley or chan- 5 nel..2 fordirecting game members to the main or playing field 2|, and having alateral branch 2 -;for.directing a game member to the selector fieldI-l. The game members, herein referred to, areballsB which are receivedfrom below'the 9 board land projected into the alley or itsbranch by aspring actuated plunger 4'. At the juncture of. the mainv alley orchannel 2 and its branch v2%..is algate 5, pivoted-on the spindle 5which is operated by mechanism presently to be described, 115 and which,when extended angularly across the main-channel, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 1, direct'a ball into the selector field, and will then beclosed over the branch channel 2*, as will .be hereinafter described.

At the. lower portion-of the board comprising the selector field are aplurality of holes l2, l3, and [-5, the portions around these holesbeing differently characterized, such as by blue, yellow,

The first ball played will 2. be the selector ball, and is propelledinto the .angularly directed branch channel '2, which will be .open, andis then directed toward the top of the selector field. .By any means nowcommonly employed, the ball is directed and deflected from 39 placetoplace until it finds a pocket in which one of the holes l2, l3, [4 or I5is located. The dropping of the ball in one of these holes actuates a.switch 59, and by suitable electric means, releases a cam or rocker 52and closes or allows to be closed the gate 5, as will be described morespecifically hereafter.

The pper portion of the board, comprising the main or playing field 2|,is provided with a pluralityof series 22 23, 24 and 25 of holes orgoals, the holes orgoals in each series being designated a, b, and c.the goals in series 22 are designated 2 1 nd. 2-

The upper end of the channel 2 merges into upper curved end 2| of theplaying field for directing. thejball on to the field. The playing field2| has a multiplicity of different devices 26, 21, 25!, and .29, andthe. like,'as now commonly employed, for directing and deflecting theballs 1?)? various circuitous and zig-zag routes toward into the severalpockets, holes, or goals.

The registering means illustrated consists of a number of fore and aft,or inclined rows I of frosted glass covered illuminated chambers, hereinreferred to. as registering lights or registering devices. There isprovided one row of registering lights for each of the holes I2, 83, i4and I5, and for the corresponding series of goals 22, 23, 24, and 25 inthe playing field. These rows are designated 32, 33, 34, and 35, eachrow, as illustrated, consisting of eight lights, those in row 32 beingdesignated 32 32 32 32 32 3%, 32 32 The lower lights in each row, namely32 33 34 and 35 correspond to the holes I2, I3, I4 and I5, and when thefirst ball played drops into one of said holes the corresponding lightis lighted, thereby visually registering the class or color selected.

the different series have different values; that is, in the specificstructure shown, a ball dropping into one of the lowermost holes 22 23*,etc'., of each series will illuminate only one light in thecorresponding series in the registering means; balls dropping into theholes 22 23 etc., will consecutively light two lights in thecorresponding series of the registering means; and balls dropping intoholes 22 23, etc., will consecutively light three lights in thecorresponding series of the registering means. The value of each hole orgoal is preferably indicated, as shown. Only one light in each series ofthe registering means remains lighted. This shows at a glance on theregistering means, the value or score in each series of goals or holes22, 23, 24 or 25. j

The game is successfully completed or won if all the lights in the samerow, corresponding to the illuminated selector light 32 33 34 or 35 havebeen lighted. That is, when a' selector light is illuminated, the objectof the succeeding plays is to light all the lights in the same row.

At the upper end of the playing field, is a hole 4| which registers on acounter 42 the odds which are conceded or paid to the player uponsuccessful completion or winning of a game. The odds are increased byballs dropping into hole 4 I.

The several mechanisms for controlling registering means 3|, counter 42,and other apparatus of my game, by the droppingof balls into the severalpockets or holes referred'to aboveQis best illustrated in the wiringdiagram of Fig. 2, and may be best disclosed by describing in detail theseveral parts of the game together with the operation of the mechanisms,i

I employ preferably two sources of electricity, the one designated 46representing'a battery for actuating the relays, and the like, and theother designated 41 being a generator for illuminating the signallights. a i I i The switch 48, which maybe considered the main switch,is closed by a coin in any manner commonly employed. This switch may besaid to shufiie or prepare the apparatus for playing a new game. Thisswitch energizes a starting coil 49, through the circuits 5i) and 5|,drawing itsarmature 49 and rotating the cams 52, "53, and 54 which arethen held in their shiftedor rotated positions by dogs in the form ofarmaturs 52 53 and 54 respectively, 'I'l1e armature49 is immediatelyreturned to its inoperative'position, but, by reason of the particularsliding rod connection with the cams 52, 53, and 54, thec'ains remainintheir'shifted positions;

The cam 55'oper'ate's a multiple switch 55-for so connecting the battery46'to the coils 52 253 and 54 respectively for the armatures 52 53 and54 that they are ready to be energized, as will be hereinafterdescribed. This cam 53 also connects lights in the registering means soas to illuminate the same when a ball drops into any of the holes 22,23, 24, or 25. As soon as the cams 52, 53, and 54 are rotated, thecircuit of the coil 49 is broken by the switch 56 which is actuated bythe cam 54.

The cam 52-is mounted on the spindle 5 in 'Sucha manner that when thecoil 49 is energized cam 52 is rotated and the gate 5 shifted to itsdotted line position in Fig. 1 and so held by the The electrical hook-upis so arranged thatthe, projection of a. ball into any of the holes 'ineach series on the main field 2! is registeredybythe lights in thecorresponding, series orrow of lights I: in the registering means. Themechanism is"- further so arranged that the different holes inarmature52 *A'gate 5 1 which is opened by a cam 53 (mentionedhereinafter, the connection not being shown) allows a ball 3 to becarried by a member or plunger 58so as toroll in front of the springactuated plunger 4, by which the ball may be projected to the playingfield as stated. As the ball is projected, the gate 5 deflects the ballinto the lateral branch 2 of the alley from which it rolls by gravityinto-one of the holes 12, I3, I4, and !5. At the underside of the gameboard, immediately below each hole, is a multiple finger switch 59 whichis closed by the dropping of the ballthereon, the ball being retained onthe switch by retractable fingers 60. These fingers are operativelyconnected (the means not being shown), with the mechanism which forcesthe new coin into operative position for playing a new game, so that theball in one of the holes drops or is discharged only when the coinmechanism is operated for forcing a new coin into operative position;and when the ball drops into one of the holes l2, I3, I4, or l5, it isheld therein, closing the switch 59, until a new game is begun.

The dropping of -a ball into one of the above holes performs twofunctions, namely, it shifts the gate 5, to the solid line or closedposition (shown in Fig. 1), and illuminates one of the selection lights32*, 33 34 or 35 in the registering means, that is, the lightcorresponding to the selection 'hole into which the ball has dropped;The'first function is performed by energizin'g the coil 52which'attracts the armature and permits the cam and the gate 5 to berotated by a spring 52. The latter function is performed by connectingthe particular signal light to the generator circuit.

The circuit to the coil 52 is broken when the gate is closed, by openinga switch GI to the coil. The switches 59 consist of resilient fingerswhich spring into non-contacting positions when the ball is releasedmechanically by the retaining fingers 60. When the ball is released, orpermitted to drop, when starting a new game, as described above, thegate 5 is also shifted to the dotted line position in Fig.1.

When the gate 5 is closed, as shown by solid lines, the subsequent ballsare projected through the main portion of the alley or channel onto themain playing field 2|, and each drops into one of the holes in anyof'the series 22, 23, 24, or 25 and illuminates the light or lights inthe corresponding series'or row of the registering means. Such result isefi'ected by the following mechamsm: i

- Below each of the latter holes is a spring switch, the switches belowthe holes in each series being designated 69 GQ and 6 9 Theswitchesforeach series are arranged in a trough or channel TBwhich"is'preferably inclined downwardly from the uppermost holes'to thelowermost, for example, from hole 22 to 22 Thus when a ball drops intoany of the holes 22%. 23 24 or 25 it rolls down the channel and engagesor operates only switch 69 in the particular channel, while .a balldropping into any of the holes 22 23 24*, or 25", will roll down thechannel and operate switches 69 and 69 in such channel. In like manner aball dropping into any of the holes 22, 23, 24, or 25, will roll downthe channel and operate all three switches in such channel. All of theaforementioned switches for each series of holes are connected to acounter coil H which, when energized, shifts an armature H which isoperatively connected to the contact arm of a multiple contact counterswitch, there being one' of such multiple switches for each series ofholes and the corresponding row of lights in the registering means,these switches being designated 12, 13, M, and 15. Said multiple contactcounter switches 12, l3, l4, and 15 are connected respectively to thelights in the rows 32, 33, 34, and 35. Each counter switch is providedwith as many stationary contacts as there are signal lights in each rowof the registering means, excepting that there is provided an additionallight in each row which is used as a selection light. The stationarycontacts in the counter switch 12 are designated 12 12, 12 12 12 12 and12 and are connected respectively to the lights 32 32, 32 32 32 32 and32 in the row 32.

In this instance, it is assumed that the ball is dropped into the yellowselection hole I 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The playing or operation of theremaining part of the game is briefly as follows:

Balls are projected to the playing field 2| and they drop singly andconsecutively intoany of the various holes 4|, 22 22 22, 23 23 etc. Aball dropping any time, before the game is completed, into the hole 4!,will raise the odds by operating the counter 42. Assuming that the ballshave dropped into the various holes so that the lights 32 33 M and 35 ofthe registering device are illuminated, as shown in Fig. 1, and then thenext ball drops into either of the holes 24* or 24, the lights in therow 34 will pass to 34 that is, light 34 will be extinguished, 34 willbe illuminated and extinguished, and then 34 will be illuminated. Theillumination of any of the lights in the lower transverse row,consisting of 32 33 34 and 35 indicates completion of the game.

On each of the multiple contact counter switches is an additional oreighth contact'12 13 14 and I5 which may be in radial alignment with thecontacts 12 13 14 and 15 so that when one of the latter contacts isengaged by the respective rotating contact arms 12 13 M or '15 thecorresponding contact 12 13 H or 15 will also be contacted.

The circuit completed by any of the latter contacts will energize thecoil 54 which will attract its armature 54 close the switch 16, completethe circuit through the line 71, energize the coil 53 attract itsarmature 53 allow the cam 53 to be returned to its normal position bythe spring 53 and break the connection made by the multiple switch 55,thus deenergizing the magnetic circuit. The cam 53, when returning toits normal position will close the ball feeding gate 51, that is, stopthe supply of more balls when the game is finished.

The lights of the registering means will remain lighted, until manuallyshut ofi, or by any other means desired (not shown). When the lightcircuit is shut off the multiple contact counter switches are returnedto their initial positions; or this may be done by the starting coil 49when the game is started, or, as commonly referred to, when the game isshuffled to begin anew. Such mechanism being of conventionalconstruction, it is not here shown.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, portions, and elements, I do notwish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of myinvention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a game of the class described, a field of play having a pluralityof series of goals, a plurality of series of registering means, oneseries for each series of goals, each series of registering meanscomprising a plurality of consecutively arranged and operated signallingdevices so connected to the goals in the corresponding series of goalsas to register consecutively the making of a goal in the latter series,means for feeding and directing game members to said field of play, andmeans in operative association with the latter means and each of theseries of registering means for rendering said latter means inoperativewhen all of the signalling devices in one series of the latter areoperated.

2. In a game of the class described, a field of play having a pluralityof series of goals, a plurality of series of registering means, oneseries for each series of goals, each series of registering meanscomprising a plurality of consecutively arranged and operated signallingdevices so connected to the goals in the corresponding series of goalsas to register consecutively the making of a goal in the latter series,a source of electric energy for actuating said signalling devices, andswitch means in operative connection with the last of the consecutivelyarranged signalling devices of each series for disconnecting saidelectric current when the last of the signalling devices of any seriesis operated.

3. In a game of the class described, a field of play having a series ofgoals, a series of registering devices so connected to the goals as tooperate the registering devices consecutively upon the making of goalsin said series, means for feeding and directing game members to saidfield of play so they may make said goals, and means in operativeassociation with the latter means and said registering devices forrendering said latter means inoperative when all of the registeringdevices are operated.

4. In a game of the class described, a field of play having a pluralityof series of goals, a plurality of series of registering devices, eachseries cooperating with a series of goals and so connected to the goalsas to operate the registering devices consecutively upon the making ofgoals in said series, means for feeding and directing game members tosaid field of play so they may make said goals, and means in operativeassociation with the latter means and said registering devices forrendering said latter means inoperative when all of the registeringdevices of one series thereof are operated.

FRITZ W. FALCK.

